The distribution should be resource-friendly.The software tools that you need to get started should be readily available and easy to install (check out our Linux gaming guide to explore more about it).
The distribution should be easy to use.Overall, you should keep note of these things: Of course, if you dislike the user experience on the KDE desktop, you might choose something else. So, technically, you may prefer a snappy and resource-friendly distribution.įor instance, you may opt for Kubuntu (Ubuntu with KDE desktop environment) instead of Ubuntu with GNOME. Primarily, your system resources matter for the game to perform well. 3 things to keep in mind before choosing a Linux distribution for gaming purposes I’ll also share some of the distributions that have been specifically crafted for gaming purposes. In this article, I’ll share with you the most gaming-friendly Linux distributions. Some distributions either provide that out of the box or they provide an easier way to install or enable them. You see, the latest graphics drivers and supporting gaming libraries support is a crucial part of gaming. So, what’s the difference, then? Are all distributions equal when it comes to gaming? To an extent, yes but not entirely. And for gaming, you should be okay with any mainstream distribution like Ubuntu or Fedora with Steam Play installed on it. Yes, there are hundreds of Linux distributions. The best thing is that you can use Steam on any Linux distribution. With this new Wine-based project, you can play many of the Windows-only games on a Linux desktop. The biggest improvement to Linux gaming has come from Steam’s Proton project. There are more native Linux games, even if they are not in the same league as the mainstream games like Watchdogs.Ĭompanies like Feral Interactive port Windows games to Linux regularly, and you can get titles like Tomb Raiders on Linux with a few months of delay. Gaming on Linux has improved a lot in the last few years. Not to forget that all the essential software tools and drivers needed for your shiny gaming hardware configuration may not be available on the Linux desktop. You won’t find the most awaited games of the year available on Linux natively. That’s fair because Linux isn’t treated as a first-class citizen when it comes to gaming. If you are a hardcore PC gamer, Linux might not be your first choice.